US corporate law weekly news: United States Climate Alliance emerges in wake of Trump decision for the US to exit the Paris Agreement

On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced that the U.S. would be exiting the Paris Agreement on climate change. While the U.S.’s withdrawal could not become effective until 2020 at the earliest, many cities and states have taken up the charge of pledging to comply with the Paris Agreement on their own. This includes the States of California, New York and Washington, whose governors agreed to continue to advance the Paris Agreement’s objectives within their own borders by forming the 'United States Climate Alliance'.

Other states and territories that have joined the United States Climate Alliance include Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. Almost 300 cities’ mayors have made similar pledges include those in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

On June 6, 2017, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to pass a law that adopts goals of the Paris climate agreement (including reducing greenhouse gas emissions).